In Ghana, Beatrice Nutekpor, 45, travels daily through the mangroves of the Tsokomey community, on the outskirts of the capital, Accra, to harvest oysters, which she then sells at the market. She learned the trade at the age of 15, following in her mother's footsteps. Today, she fights to keep the tradition alive while trying to pass it on to her daughter.

Oyster farming in Ghana's coastal mangroves has long been a livelihood for women in the region. However, with each passing year, the number of available oysters declines, a direct effect of climate change, making the survival of this practice increasingly uncertain.

Mangroves—trees or shrubs that grow along coastlines—play multiple vital roles in the aquatic ecosystem: they provide shelter for various species of fish, protect against erosion caused by rising sea levels, and act as a natural barrier during storms and cyclones.

Mangroves are vital for oysters: it's in their roots that they take root and grow. When these ecosystems are destroyed, the mollusks migrate to deeper waters, forcing women to take risky dives of up to nine meters, remaining underwater for hours to try to collect what's left.

The Development Action Association, a local non-governmental organization, was helping to recover the oysters, but the training they were providing ended after losing financial support from the United States (USA), as a result of President Donald Trump's decision to cut foreign aid contracts.

Without this support, women were left to their own devices, trying to maintain a generational practice and support their families in a country still recovering from the worst economic crisis in decades.

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For years, hundreds of women have been trained by Development Action Association, a local non-governmental organization, focused on sustainable farming methods: replanting mangroves, preserving existing areas, and selectively harvesting oysters. The goal was to reduce the impact of climate change and prolong the survival of the activity.

However, this support ended abruptly when the US cut funding. Without funding, the projects were halted, and the women were left to fend for themselves. Still, Nutekpor and her companions refused to give up: they continue to plant mangroves on their own initiative and are already seeing signs of recovery.

“The oysters have started to settle in the mangroves we planted”, reports Nutekpor.

More than 80% of Ghana's original mangroves have disappeared over the last century. While precise data on the recent rate of destruction is lacking, researchers warn that climate change and the advance of coastal urbanization are worsening the situation daily.

The relentless demand for firewood for cooking, pressure from real estate expansion, and the release of water from overburdened dams further endanger these fragile ecosystems. According to activist Lydia Sasu of Development Action Association, the current oyster harvest is already lower than the previous year — a worrying sign that the future of the activity is compromised.

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Despite the difficulties, women persist. Many are part of the Densu Oyster Pickers Association, a community group that established rules to ensure the preservation of mangroves. Anyone who cuts trees outside the established deadlines loses their right to oysters, and repeat offenders are reported to the authorities.

Bernice Bebli, 39, describes the hard work under the scorching sun, but insists that the greatest reward is not just economic:

“We do this for our children and for future generations.”

“Water is our sustenance, it is our life”.

For the community, the practice doesn't just mean food or income. It represents identity, solidarity, and cultural continuity. As Nutekpor states:

“Just as my mother taught me, I want to teach my daughter, so that she can teach her daughter.”

“So oyster farming will continue to be our family business”.

The case of the Tsokomey women reflects a broader reality that is repeated in several West African countries: the pressure of climate change on traditional coastal communities. Between sea erosion, rising sea levels, and resource scarcity, millions of families face similar dilemmas.

Several experts, such as Francis Nunoo, a professor of fisheries science at the University of Ghana, warn of the enormous risk that coastal populations are becoming dependent on these ecosystems. The rate of destruction always exceeds the rate of regeneration, and if nothing changes, not only will native species be lost, but human lives will also be lost.